Welding location and order monitoring in welding systems

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods are disclosed relating to welding systems that monitor welds performed by an operator. In some examples, the welding system monitors one or more welds performed using a welding tool, evaluates characteristics of the one or more welds in comparison to certain predetermined criteria, and determines a performance score for the operator based on the evaluation. In some examples, the characteristics of the one or more welds include the location of each of the one or more welds and/or the order in which the one or more welds are executed. In such an example, the predetermined criteria may include target locations for each of the one or more welds and/or a target order of execution. In some examples, the welding system may respond to deviations from the target locations and/or target order, such as by reducing a performance score, disabling weld operations, providing guidance to the operator, etc.

1 . A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 track a welding tool location of a welding tool based on sensor data detected by the sensor, the sensor data relating to the welding tool, and the welding tool being configured to perform one or more welds; and   set a welding parameter of a welding-type power supply based on the welding tool location.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the welding parameter comprises a voltage, a current, a gas type, a wire feed speed, a workpiece material type, or a filler type, or the sensor comprises an ultrasonic, radio frequency, magnetic, audio, or camera sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 identify a particular weld that should be performed next in an ordered sequence of welds; and   identify a target weld location corresponding to the particular weld.   
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 3 , further comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine a performance score based on the welding tool location and the target weld location. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the target weld location is identified from an ordered sequence of welding locations corresponding to the ordered sequence of welds. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 3 , further comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to prohibit welding in response to determining the target weld location is more than a threshold distance from the welding tool location. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein tracking the welding tool location comprises identifying the welding tool location, based on the sensor data, in response to detecting activation of the welding tool. 
     
     
         8 . A welding system, comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect sensor data relating to a welding tool that is configured to perform one or more welds;   processing circuitry; and   a machine readable storage device comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to:
 track a welding tool location of the welding tool based on the sensor data detected by the sensor, and 
 set a welding parameter of a welding-type power supply based on the welding tool location. 
   
     
     
         9 . The welding system of  claim 8 , wherein the welding parameter comprises a voltage, a current, a gas type, a wire feed speed, a workpiece material type, or a filler type, or the sensor comprises an ultrasonic, radio frequency, magnetic, audio, or camera sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The welding system of  claim 8 , wherein the machine readable storage device further comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to:
 identify a particular weld that should be performed next in an ordered sequence of welds, and   identify a target weld location corresponding to the particular weld.   
     
     
         11 . The welding system of  claim 10 , wherein the machine readable storage device further comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to determine a performance score based on the welding tool location and the target weld location. 
     
     
         12 . The welding system of  claim 10 , wherein the target weld location is identified from an ordered sequence of welding locations corresponding to the ordered sequence of welds. 
     
     
         13 . The welding system of  claim 10 , wherein the machine readable storage device further comprises machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to prohibit welding in response to determining the target weld location is more than a threshold distance from the welding tool location. 
     
     
         14 . The welding system of  claim 8 , wherein tracking the welding tool location comprises identifying the welding tool location, based on the sensor data, in response to detecting activation of the welding tool. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 detecting, via a sensor, sensor data relating to a welding tool that is configured to perform one or more welds;   tracking, via processing circuitry, a welding tool location of the welding tool based on the sensor data detected by the sensor; and   setting a welding parameter of a welding-type power supply based on the welding tool location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the welding parameter comprises a voltage, a current, a gas type, a wire feed speed, a workpiece material type, or a filler type, or the sensor comprises an ultrasonic, radio frequency, magnetic, audio, or camera sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 identifying, via the processing circuitry, a particular weld that should be performed next in an ordered sequence of welds; and   identifying, via the processing circuitry, a target weld location corresponding to the particular weld.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising determining, via the processing circuitry, a performance score based on the welding tool location and the target weld location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the target weld location is identified from an ordered sequence of welding locations corresponding to the ordered sequence of welds. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising prohibiting welding in response to determining the target weld location is more than a threshold distance from the welding tool location.